ST. EDWARD'S HILLTOPPERS (13-13, 9-9) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (18-8, 13-5)
Feb. 16, 2023 • 5:30 PM
Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950)
 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
St. Edward's	Lubbock, Texas	Thur., Feb. 16	5:30 p.m.	Video	Stats
St. Mary's	Lubbock, Texas	Sat. Feb. 18	1 p.m.	Video	Stats
GAME NOTES (PDF)

 
OUT (OF) WEST
There are four games remaining on the regular season docket and Lubbock Christian University has three of their remaining four games at home, including a pair of games this week, as they host St. Edward's (Thursday at 5:30 p.m.) and St. Mary's (Saturday at 1 p.m.) for a pair of non-divisional games in the Lone Star Conference. The two games are their final games against East Division teams, which only counts towards their overall and Lone Star Conference record. LCU sits in fourth place in the LSC standings with a 13-5 conference mark.  Next week, LCU's final two games are West Division contests, as they have a home-and-home with West Texas A&M. LCU sits atop the West Division standings with a 10-2 divisional record.    
 
ESCAPING EASTERN
Lubbock Christian University overcame 13 turnovers in the second half with 52% shooting from the field in the half and Maci Maddox supplying 12 of her 14 points in the stanza to help lead the Lady Chaparrals to a 66-61 Lone Star Conference West Division road win over Eastern New Mexico Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Arena. Grace Foster supplied the Lady Chaps with her ninth double-double performance (17 points, 10 rebounds) of the season in the process to help keep LCU atop the West Division standings with a 10-2 divisional record.
 
Maddox was 4-of-6 from the field in the second half and was 3-of-4 from long range. She finished with 14 points to join Audrey Robertson (10 points) and Foster (17 points) in double figures. Foster led LCU from the field and in boards with 10 rebounds. LCU overcame 19 turnovers in the game, as they were fortunate ENMU did not outscore LCU more than the 10-7 advantage they did in points-off-turnovers (ENMU turned it over 11 times).
 
It was a game of chase that LCU had to hold on. Neither team had more than a 6-0 run. Over the final 35 minutes of the game, LCU never trailed, but they never led by more than eight points.
 
FOSTER X 3
The Lone Star Conference recognized Lubbock Christian University's Grace Foster for a third time this season as the LSC Women's Basketball Offensive Player of the Week.

Grace Foster helped lead LCU to a 2-0 week with road wins at Western New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico, as she led the team in points (20.5) and rebounds (8.5) per game. She posted 24 points at Western New Mexico, with 15 scored in the second half. LCU was able to overcome a halftime deficit with her 15 points, which was more than the entire WNMU team scored in the half (14). Foster followed the performance with her ninth double-double of the season, scoring 17 points and adding 10 rebounds at Eastern New Mexico. The two wins kept the Lady Chaps atop the West Division standings.

The honor is Foster's fourth weekly award of her career and her third of the season. Each of her honors claimed this season have been offensive (last season she claimed a defensive honor). Foster's weekly honor gives LCU four this season, as her three this season are joined by a defensive honor claimed by Reese Schumann on Jan. 16. She is the first player in the LSC this season to claim the honor three times.

SEASON NOTES AND TRENDS
> Grace Foster is sprinkled throughout the statistical leaderboard in the LSC, as she is tied for second in the LSC in double-doubles (with nine to tie for 36^th nationally) and leads in rebounds (237, which is 21^st nationally), while ranking second in rebounds per game (9.1, which is 44^th nationally). On the offensive side, Foster leads the LSC in free-throw percentage (90.7%, 11th nationally) and fourth in the LSC in scoring (15.5 points per game).

> LCU leads the LSC in three-point shooting with a 33.5% shooting percentage from the perimeter this season, which has them 60^th nationally. Opposing teams are shooting 24.8% from three-point range, which defensively places LCU atop the LSC in perimeter defense (fifth nationally). LCU's perimeter defense has held the opposition to a 20.3% three-point shooting percentage (41/202) over the last 12 games played. LCU has a 77-41 advantage in three-point field goals in the span.  

> Maci Maddox ranks second in the LSC with 117 assists (22^nd nationally) and is fourth with 4.5 assists per game (39^th nationally). Defensively, Maddox ranks eighth in the LSC in steals (51) and eighth in steals per game (2.0).

>The Lady Chaps are averaging 37.6 rebounds per game, posting a high of 48 against Cameron (Dec. 30). LCU has not averaged over 40 rebounds in a season since averaging 40.3 during the 2015-16 season. Grace Foster (9.1) and Audrey Robertson (5.3) are each averaging 5.0-or-more rebounds per game. LCU sits third in the LSC in defensive rebounds per game (29.3, 15^th nationally) and ninth in overall rebounds per game (37.6).

> LCU has a 381-302 scoring advantage from the line this season against their opposition (however, LCU has been outscored 131-117 from the line on the road). They have at least 20 points scored from the line seven times this season. On the campaign, LCU is shooting 77.4% (381/492) from the line, which leads the LSC and ranks 17^th nationally. The Lady Chaps rank 34^th nationally and seventh in the LSC in free-throws made per game (14.7). Grace Foster is 98-of-108 (90.7%) from the line this season to lead LCU. Audrey Robertson (71-of-87, 81.6%, fourth in the LSC) and Shaylee Stovall (52-of-64, 81.3%) are each shooting at least 80.0% from the line (of those reaching minimum requirements).

>The Lady Chaps are averaging 68.5 points per contest (averaged 65.9 per game last season), which ranks third in the LSC, and they have a trio of players averaging double figures in points. Grace Foster (15.5), Audrey Robertson (10.9) and Maci Maddox (10.0) lead the average scoring pace for the Lady Chaps.

>Defensively, Lubbock Christian is fifth in the LSC in blocks per game (3.3). Reese Schumann leads LCU in blocks (35), ranking third in the LSC (36^th nationally), and Grace Foster ranks 13th in the LSC with 21 blocks. Schumann's average of 1.4 blocks per game ranks third in the LSC.

>LCU's has dominated third quarters this season, as they have a 470-356 scoring advantage in the third quarter this season (average scoring advantage of 18.1 - 13.7). The 18.1 points per third quarter scoring mark leads as their highest single-quarter scoring average of the four quarters this season, and their 13.7 points allowed per third quarter ranks as their second-best defensive quarter of the four quarters this season (allow 13.3 points per quarter in first quarter).

HOME NUMBERS
The Lady Chaps are 10-1 on the homecourt this season and averaging a margin of 20.4 points outscoring their opposition. Averaging 73.3 points at home, LCU has a trio of players averaging double figures in points. Grace Foster is averaging a double-double with 15.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while Audrey Robertson (11.2) and Maci Maddox (10.5) complete the threesome of double-figure point producers at home. Maddox is also averaging 4.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game at home. Foster is 46-of-50 (92.0%) from the free-throw line, as LCU is 76.1% from the line at home (as a team) and outscoring opponents 188-120 from the line at home.

CONFERENCE CALL
Lubbock Christian is 13-5 in Lone Star Conference play and sits alone in fourth place in the LSC (conference standings). A duo of Lady Chaps pace the scoring attack in conference play, as Grace Foster (15.4, which is fourth in the LSC) and Audrey Robertson (10.0) are averaging double figures in scoring in conference contests. Foster is also averaging 8.9 rebounds per game in conference (third in LSC). LCU is averaging 67.6 points per game (third in the LSC) in conference (shooting a LSC-best 43.6% from the field) and they have a 12.3-point (second in LSC) scoring margin (defense leads the LSC holding opponents to 55.2 points per game). Maddox averages 4.7 assists per game (second in the LSC), which helps LCU lead the LSC with a pace of 14.3 per conference game. Their assist/turnover ratio of 0.97 leads the LSC.
 
RANKING THINGS
LCU is 1-4 against nationally ranked programs this season, with a Dec. 17 win over No.15 MSU Billings in Las Vegas, Nev. representing their lone win so far against a ranked opponent this season. They fell in their season opener (Nov.5) to No.6 Southern Missouri State and to No.13 Georgia Southwestern State (Dec. 16) in neutral site games before falling at No.7 Texas Woman's (Jan. 21) and at home against No.14 Angelo State (Feb.2). LCU went 6-0 against nationally ranked programs in 2020-21 and 3-2 in 2021-22 against the nations ranked foes (opened 3-0). The Lady Chaps have played five games against nationally ranked programs and eight games against programs either nationally ranked or receiving top-25 votes.
 
SPEAKING OF RANKINGS
Wednesday, the NCAA released their first South Central Region rankings (first rankings are listed alphabetically) and Lubbock Christian made the list. Here are the list of 10 teams under current consideration, as eight programs will receive a berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals:
Adams State
Angelo State
Black Hills State
Colorado School of Mines
Lubbock Christian
Regis  
Texas A&M Kingsville
Texas Woman's
UT Tyler
West Texas A&M
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
On Feb. 2, the NCAA Division II record home win streak came to a close, as LCU fell to Angelo State, which ended the record win streak at 113. The loss was LCU's first at home since Jan. 1, 2015 against Oklahoma City University. LCU, who also had a 7-0 mark in NCAA postseason play in Lubbock in the mix (not including a 4-0 mark in LSC postseason play), had also won 88 consecutive home conference games (their last conference home loss occurred Jan. 10, 2013 against Oklahoma City). They completed a 49-0 all-time mark in Heartland Conference home games (they are 35-1 in LSC home games). LCU also went 11-1 during their 113-game home win streak against nationally ranked programs.
 
NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
113 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 – Feb. 2, 2023
87 - Neb. Kearney Jan. 31, 1995-Nov. 24, 2001
85 - West Tex. A&M Jan. 9, 1987-Dec. 6, 1991
 
NCAA DIVISION LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS BY DIVISION
Division I – 99 – UConn 2006/07 – 2011/12
Division II - 113 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 – Feb. 2, 2023
Division III – 121 – Amherst Jan. 31, 2009-Feb. 6, 2016 
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT SEU
1 > The Hilltoppers are 13-13 on the season, with a 9-9 record in LSC play (tied for seventh in the conference standings). They are 3-3 against West Division teams this season.
2 > SEU, who is coming off a 12-16 season in 2021-22 (4-12 LSC record, tied for 13th in LSC), was preseason picked 11th in the LSC.
3 > The 'toppers are 4-5 on the road this season. They have not played a road game in February and have won three of their last four road tilts.
4 > SEU averages 22.1 free-throw attempts per game, which ranks third in the LSC and 17^th nationally. They make 15.5 per game, which also ranks 17^th nationally. Lauren Catherman ranks 35^th nationally with 101 free-throws this season.
5 > Sammie Dufek leads the LSC with 60 blocks (third nationally) with a pace of 2.3 per game (sixth nationally).

THE SERIES AGAINST SEU
LCU has won 15 of the last 17 meetings, including the last seven, and leads the all-time series at 16-6. Last season (Jan. 20, 2022) LCU defeated SEU 64-44 in Lubbock and was their first meeting since the 2019-20 season. Thursday marks the fourth consecutive regular season meeting between the two programs in Lubbock, where LCU is 9-0 all-time in the series (LCU hasn't played at SEU since Jan. 24, 2019).
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. SEU
LCU's active career leaders against SEU:

Grace Foster 1gp, 7.0 pts, 3/4 FG
Carli Bostwick 1gp, 6.0 pts, 4/4 FT
Audrey Robertson 1gp, 4 pts, 2/3 FG

PRIOR MEETING VS. SEU
LUBBOCK, Texas (January 20, 2022) - Lubbock Christian University used a 17-0 run in the first half to jump out early and cruise to a 64-44 Lone Star Conference victory over St. Edward's behind a balanced Lady Chaparrals performance inside Rip Griffin Center.

LCU opened the game on an 8-0 run, with Channing Cunyus scoring half the points in the opening 5:36 of the game. The Hilltoppers missed their opening five shot attempts, but responded from the 8-0 deficit with a 7-0 run by connecting on three consecutive shot attempts. Ashton Duncan ended the SEU run with a three-pointer, which helped ignite a 17-0 run. The first 11 points of the run included additional three-pointers by Cunyus and Allie Schulte and closed out the final 2:21 of the quarter for a 19-7 LCU lead.

The run closed with a 6-0 start to the second quarter, with Laynee Burr capping the sequence with a layup to put LCU up 25-7 1:28 into the quarter. The sequence of scoring streaks momentarily discontinued in the quarter, as the teams started trading baskets. SEU guard and Lubbock native Lauren Catherman scored six consecutive points for the 'Toppers to cut the deficit to 29-15 with 5:08 left in the half. McCall Hampton closed the half hitting consecutive field goals to provide SEU with a 6-0 run to end the half to cut LCU's lead to 33-21.

Cunyus and Schulte each had nine points in the first half. Juliana Robertson also had seven rebounds and four assists for LCU in the half. The Lady Chaps shot 50% in each half and held SEU to 39.1% shooting from the field (27.3%, 3-of-11 in the first quarter).

Burr and Robertson teamed together to spearhead a 16-4 LCU run to open the second half, as they combined for 10 of the 16 points (six by Burr). The surge lasted for a span of 6:40 and provided LCU a 49-25 lead. The Lady Chaps received points from seven different Lady Chaps in the quarter and shot 63.6% (7-of-11) from the field, which led to outscoring the Hilltoppers 21-8 in the quarter for a 54-29 lead through three quarters.

All 11 LCU bench players saw time on the floor in the final quarter, including freshman Rachel Haase, who made her LCU debut (she had been injured to begin the season). Carli Bostwick, scoring a career-high six points, had a reverse layup with 5:07 left to give LCU their largest lead of the game at 60-33. All six of Bostwick's points were LCU's only points of the game's final 5:07.

Cunyus and Schulte co-led LCU with 11 points each. Burr also finished in double figures with 10 points. Robertson had a productively balanced stat-line with eight rebounds, six points, four assists, four steals and four blocks (blocks and steals matched a career high). Schulte and Robertson each had four steals, as LCU produced 13 in the game and forced SEU into 20 turnovers. LCU finished the game 49^ (24/49) from the field.

SEU (9-8, 2-4) was 39.2% (20/51) from the field and went 2-of-17 (11.8%) from long range. Bella Muscoreil was the lone 'Topper in double figures, finishing with 10 points. They were limited to two free-throws in the game, which is the fewest attempts by an LCU opponent since Texas A&M International had two attempts on Mar. 7, 2019 (SEU made both free throws, which marked the fewest points from the line by an LCU opponent since Western New Mexico had two points from the line on Feb. 12, 2021).